A wedding is the catalyst for change in several lives

Meet Gail Baines, who is not having a good day at all. After working for many years as the assistant headmistress for a private Baltimore school, her boss informs her that (a) she is retiring and (b) there's no way that Gail will be taking over for her, so perhaps Gail should find a new job. Rough, right? To make it worse, Gail has to pretend all is right with the world because that night is her daughter Debbie's wedding rehearsal and she can't let her news dampen what is supposed to be a happy occasion. Then her ex-husband Max shows up with a foster cat in tow, looking to stay with Gail because his original plan to sleep at Debbie's fell through (Debbie's fiancé is, apparently, deathly allergic to cats). Throw in a pushy mother-in-law-to-be who has taken over the wedding arrangements, the groom's sister dropping a bombshell on the bride, a former beau of Gail's turning out to be the groom's uncle...well, its going to be a busy few days for a woman who doesn't particularly care for, and isn't good at navigating, social events. At the end of these three days in June, Gail's life will change in ways she never imagined.
Author Anne Tyler has a gift for creating characters who are wonderfully ordinary and navigate their everyday world of joy, heartbreak, and hope with (sometimes ) good grace and humor. Her latest story delves into the family of a bride just before, during and after the wedding. The reader sees the worry over "losing" a daughter, the clash of expectations between two very different families, and the shadow that past events can throw over this milestone day. Gail reminds me in some ways of Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge; both are women who are in many ways irritating and often their own worst enemies, yet are rendered in such a way that it is impossible not to love them just a little despite their prickly natures. Don't be fooled by the relatively small number of pages that encompass this lovely tale, it is exquisitely crafted and rich with nuance. If you have read Anne Tyler, you don't need my recommendation to grab a copy of this new release; if you haven't, then know that if you enjoy authors like Elizabeth Berg, Jane Smiley, and Elizabeth Strout then you will fall under the spell of Ms Tyler's latest offering. Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, VInatage and Anchor/Knopf for allowing me an early peek at this new gem from one of our most talented authors.

Having never read a book by Anne Tyler (though I own copies of several on her backlist), Three Days in June seemed like a quick, easy foray into this author's work. The writing is wonderful, and the story of 60-something Gail's life during her daughter's wedding weekend was so relatable. Anne Tyler packed a lot into this short book, as a reader, I felt like I got to know Gail very well and understood most of her choices. I didn't find her character terribly sympathetic, however, and the relationships with her ex-husband and daughter seemed a bit odd.

This was a pleasant introduction to Anne Tyler's writing style and has made me interested in reading some of the backlist that is on my shelf to see if I will enjoy a more in-depth novel. Thank you to Knopf and Netgalley for the digital ARC of Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. The opinions in this review are my own.

A lovely look at marriage and family, as told through the events of the days before, of, and after the main character's daughter's weddings. The writing is wonderful, as are the observations about long marriages and the complications that become part of life over the years. A short, crisp treat -- perfect for fans of the author, but also a great introduction for those new to her books.

I picked up this book because Anne Tyler is such a prolific and popular author. Once upon a time, this might have been in my wheelhouse (maybe 40 years ago). It felt very old fashioned and perhaps it is because the main characters are in their 60's and the author is older as well. I'm sure there are many who may love everything she writes (as seen by the many 5 star ratings on this one), but this story felt so stiff to me. I DO like that she tackled a subject matter that many people choose to never read (which has never bothered me) and that felt somewhat forward thinking. I just didn't feel invested in the characters and when it ended, I felt just blah.

Three Days in June is a slice of life story about a middle aged Baltimore woman whose only daughter is getting married, Gail is awkward, and having a really bad day before her daughter's big event....and then her ex-husband shows up with a cat. I really enjoyed this short, character driven story.

What an absolute treat to read the newest Anne Tyler novel prior to its publication date! Thank you so much NetGalley! Ann Tyler is an automatic read for me; her books are always exquisitely written with lyrical prose and intricate, multilayered plotlines. "Three Days in June" is quintessential Ann Tyler-the story is rich and multi-faceted, with characters who are vibrantly alive. It is a short book and the story centers on only three days of the characters' lives, but those three days are the kinds of days that change a person, whether a character in a book or its reader, forever. We need more books like this one; "Three Days in June" is like that one ray of sunshine that pokes through on an otherwise cloudy day, giving a person hope that things can get better. This book should be on all of the 2025 must-read lists.

The story takes place over 3 days The day before her daughters wedding we find Gail walking out of her job at 61 she is told that her "job" is going to someone else that's more socially acceptable and she just walks out. For 3 days we follow her and er family navigating her daughters wedding and having her ex-husband stay with her. I loved seeing a story based on an older female.
This was delightful. I hope you will grab a copy and enjoy it.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three Days in June was a light-hearted yet deeply meaningful family drama set over a weekend in June. Gail is a self-described worrier and mother of the bride. As she launches the big wedding weekend suddenly she finds herself with turmoil at work and at home. On the home front her ex husband arrives for the wedding with no hotel and a foster cat in tow. As she navigates and worries about etiquette and social awkwardness she also remembers the days of her marriage with Max and worries her daughter is making a mistake. I enjoyed this latest book by Anne Tyler. Thank you to the publisher for an ARC, all opinions are my own.

This extremely talented author is well known for shining a light on a microcosm of our everyday lives. Her characters don't live the lives of actors in Hollywood, or million-dollar athletes, or billion-dollar tech moguls, or presidential wannabees or has-beens. In this piece of contemporary fiction, she once again takes a small slice out of life and turns it into a tender and arresting story that envelopes you like a warm hug.

Enjoyment of this book may hinge on whether the reader perceives Gail, the main character, to be deserving of sympathy or if she just elicits frustration. However, it is in the little things, such as a discussion about cat dander and what an odd word that is, that makes this story so delightful. As well as how Gail maneuvers through her travails. This may very well be my favorite Anne Tyler book.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Knopf publishing for the digital ARC of this exquisite book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Author Anne Tyler never disappoints. As always, even in this novella-length story, she makes you pay attention and gives you something to think about. It’s only, as the title says, three days in June and fairly short, but it’s packed with a wedding, complicated relationships, and people that have to look at their past choices and/or carefully consider the choices that may well be for the rest of their lives.

At the start Gail Baines seems like a cranky, judgmental woman that doesn’t have many friends and is hard to get along with, but as the story progresses we might unfortunately see more of ourselves in her: someone who isn’t always comfortable, who is bossy possibly because she’s unsure, who keeps to herself and whose inner dialogue is often critical of the people and things happening around her. Her ex-husband Max used to adore her, but something – we don’t know what yet – caused their marriage to fall apart and what she remembers most now is his annoying habits. Their current relationship is amicable, or at least amicable enough so they can attend their daughter’s wedding together.

Debbie is thirty-three years old and getting married. Gail’s inner voice thinks Kenneth’s parents are too this or too that but Debbie is strong, opinionated and vocal so Gail keeps those thoughts mostly in her head. Max looks like the peacemaker, which kind of irritates Gail. Debbie shares a secret with her parents on the eve of her wedding. Gail’s first thought is call it off, Max’s wait and see, but Debbie probably regrets even mentioning it and does not want any advice or further discussion.

Three Days in June just kinds of rolls along, lulling you into thinking not much interesting is happening, until suddenly you realize there is a lot going on beneath the surface; relationships, especially Gail and Max’s, are deeper than we thought. A secret is revealed, unexpected actions are taken – and a cat chooses Gail as her next owner.

Three Days in June is a fascinating book about people: choices made, consequences, the possibility of new choices. I received an advance copy from NetGalley. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Gail's daughter is getting married. This story takes place on the day before the wedding, the wedding day, and the day after the wedding. Gail is somewhat socially awkward. The day before the wedding she loses her job and her ex shows up for the wedding without a place to stay. Gail has not been asked to help with the wedding. She has a lot on her plate. Her unresolved issues about her marriage and whether her daughter should really marry the guy fill the three days. Also, what is she going to do without a job.
This is a great story about someone who is just trying to get on with their life. How much can Gail's life change in these three days? I found the story engaging and I really wanted Gail to get settled. Anyone who has doubts about relationships will feel for Gail and hope for the best. I recommend this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #AnneTyler, and #Knopf for a copy of this book.
#ThreeDaysinJune

A sweet little story.

"Three Days in June" is a quiet exploration of family dynamics, personal growth, and human relationships. Set against the backdrop of a wedding weekend, Gail, the mother of the bride, has a tumultuous three days. A series of semi-unfortunate events occur in Gail's life, to Gail, to Debbie (the bride) and Max, Gail's ex-husband which all interconnect to dredge up unresolved issues in Gail's life.

While it could have been written as silly, overemotional and over-the-top, Tyler's signature writing shines. She is a master on making her stories and characters represent the mundane, everyday life and it felt very authentic. I think the shorter length of the novel is perfect and keeps the punches concise and centered.

Pub Date: February 11, 2025 thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for the gifted copy. #ThreeDaysinJune

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As if weddings are not stressful enough to plan and attend, Gail, a mother of the bride, is left out of the wedding activities and made to feel like an outsider. Her daughter and the groom's mom have planned everything without consulting her. As if this is not enough, Gail loses her job and her ex shows up without a place to stay, without a suit and a cat.

I really enjoyed this story and found both the situation and characters very relatable and humorous! This is a sweet and touching story with bits of humor and wisdom thrown in. A wonderful read!

"Sometimes when I find out what's on other people's minds I honestly wonder if we all live on totally separate planets."

I really loved Three Days in June - this was a quiet novel that had characters that felt so real, it truly felt like I was dropped into Gail's life for these three days in June - the day of her daughter's wedding and the day before and after.

I would recommend this if you love reading:
- Character driven stories
- Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
- Family dynamics

Thank you to Knopf for the free ebook to review.

From the beginning of this book, I could feel that everything about this small, pointed novel was totally under its author's control. It presents Gail, a woman in her late middle years who loses her job - due to bad luck, or bad people skills - the day before her daughter's wedding. A few hours later, her ex-husband knocks on her door, along with a foster cat who is absolutely not going to stay.

It's tempting to say that nothing much happens in <i>Three Days in June</i> because the story is rendered through the flat, matter-of-fact lens of Gail's interiority. But, actually, despite the book's slimness, quite a lot transpires: a wedding, reunions between Gail and two of her former paramours, revelations about relationships past and present. And, most importantly, Gail's realization of her own nature and the choices she must make about her life.

Three Days in June was the first book by Anne Tyler that I have read. This was a longer novella and I really enjoyed the format. It was set in three days in June around a wedding. The FMC Gail is kind of awkward and doesn't have a lot of social skills. She is literal and is always thinking about consequences. With her daughter getting married and possibly losing her job, she was pretty stressed out the entire book. This book had a lot of character development even though it wasn't long.

This book was a deep character examination of one family from Baltimore in the days leading up to the daughter's wedding. It was short but chalked full of memories, regrets and growth.

Gail's daughter Debbie is getting married to Kenneth. As Gail reflects on her life and the fact that her role is changing in not only her daughter's life but also her own, she must decide what's next in her life and how to move forward.

The day before the wedding, she loses her job and then finds out her ex-husband, Max, is staying with her instead of her daughter so she must adjust to the situation. Then when Debbie comes over and tells them some shocking news that could derail the entire wedding, Gail must put aside her past prejudices and let Debbie make her own decisions without clouding her judgement.

With past reflections and current decisions, this sweeping book packed quite the punch. I loved Gail’s straight forward manner and loved to see how once upon a time, her and Max balanced each other out.

When Gail reflects upon her life and the choices she made, I feel like she finally gave herself permission to regret and move on. Maybe it's not where she wanted to be but she still has had some great memories with the people she loved. It was sad and satisfying at the same time and really mimicked what real life is about, making decisions and having to live with them.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book through a digital ARC from NetGalley
Author: Ann Taylor
Genre: Contemporary Novel

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Three Days in June
Author: Anne Tyler
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: February 11, 2025

Three Days in June is a little gem of a book introducing us to Gail Baines, a school administrator who gets a job demotion as her daughter’s wedding festivities get underway. Gail does not have a life of fun and frivolity, especially when she isn’t invited to the day of beauty for her daughter, the bride. Life is predictable but rather dull. Enter Gail’s husband and his foster cat, who arrive in town to discover that his soon-to-be son-in-law is allergic to cats. Gail is starting to think this will be a long weekend when her ex asks to stay with her for the duration of the wedding. The weekend turns into three days of shenanigans with an excellent supporting cast of characters. A charming, sweet, and second chance story that will leave you smiling. #fiction #romance #contemporary #cheating #divorce #forgiveness #romance #ThreeDaysInJune #annetylerauthor @netgalley @aaknopf #weddings #marriage #motheranddaughters
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader#bookreviewer #secondchance

I love Anne Tyler’s writing, which always evokes emotions and just a feeling of familiarity with the characters. Gail is a very organized, straight type of person, getting ready for her daughter, Debbie’s wedding. When her ex husband Max shows up, staying at Gail’s house, the reader is brought into their relationship and why it failed. I highly recommend this novella to all readers of women’s fiction. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

It is the day before Debbie’s wedding. Her mom, Gail, has not been having the best day- or rather best of years. Gail tries to navigate all of the before wedding jitters for her daughter alongside her ex-husband crashing at her house. Will Debbie have a happily ever after? Or will all three members of the Baines family under one roof stir up trouble?